One of the many things not mentioned about moving out and into a place with single-glazed windows is that the real conflict is still primal. Man versus elements. Who will snap first? A chord-wearing fiend or a winter weather blitz toward the end of February? The latter is winning out but the sweet nectar of Wild Turkey 101 keeps us warm and pure in the heart. Aurora’s latest work, two years after her masterclass effort on The Gods We Can Touch, keeps the head filled with hope as she brings on The Conflict of the Mind. There is conflict in everyone and between everyone, you just need to find the disagreement for it to waive through the pangs of grief and anger.
Where The Conflict of the Mind may not bait rage-inducing fever, it does present a warm glow of action and activity, the self-doubting urges we must overcome to continue. Downtempo and slowed, Aurora attempts and succeeds in presenting a more naturalised and dawning piece of neo-psychedelic excellence. Engage in the complications of the real world and hear the radio static-like approach to its delivery. All of it comes good and The Conflict of the Mind finds itself bursting through with an energetic, trance-like excellence, shaking off the muted tones of its opening. It makes for an exceptional contrast though and the dramatic instrumental bridge into digging up the ground with frantic hopelessness would not hit as hard if it were not for the layers of static on her voice.
Embrace the uncertainty and the organs in the back. There is a wonderful calm covering this track – once more Aurora finds herself with a keen connection to light gothic flourishes and nature. It is perhaps the latter which takes precedence here, the tender instrumentals kept light and assured of a whirring hope for the future. It is the hope which kills you, and for Aurora, implementing the fatalistic touches does not come through. A rather bold step to hope for love to come good and stay where it belongs, the hopeful nature of The Conflict of the Mind and the absolute, believed optimism, is a shock to the system at a time when jaded features are frequent. No, Aurora insists it will get better. She makes it clear with the promise of overcoming the titular struggle and sounds confident enough to convince her listeners of this battle.
Aurora has always struck as a left-field artist with the right intentions at heart. Her musical calibre and motivations for visual skill, particularly the Cure for Me hit, ring through this state of isolated fear. Do not let the spirit die is as clear as it gets. Aurora cannot make it simpler than this. If the spirit dies then so too does the effort needed to navigate these complicated stories Aurora makes mention of. The Conflict of the Mind is another essential listen from an artist whose confidence in the tale they tell is empowering enough to drag you out of any sense of self-doubt. It settles well and serves an incredible purpose. You are not obligated to look after yourself though Aurora gives plenty of reasons to do so on The Conflict of the Mind.
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